Bourne man Colin’s campaign to give something back

The Ketteringham family from Bourne. Multiple System Atrophy suffer Colin Ketteringham with his wife Louise and children Jack and Chloe (both 9), at back, with George (10) and Harry (3) at front. EMN-140526-173226009

Doctors gave him three years to live and Colin has had to learn to cope with his deteriorating bodily functions.

The Mercury launched a successful campaign to raise funds for Colin to take his wife Louise and children George, 10, Jack and Chloe, both nine, and Harry, three, to Walt Disney World.

And having enjoyed the holiday of a lifetime, Colin now wants to give something back.

He decided to raise funds for the Royal British Legion, which has paid for a range of equipment to make life more comfortable. As a former military man who served for seven years in the Royal Corps of Transport, Colin has plenty of reasons to support the Legion.

He said: “They have been so much help to me. I served in the forces but I want to give them something back as well.”

So far the Legion has given Colin an electric scooter and a shed in which to store it, with help from other funds.

That was followed by funding for the deposit for a vehicle through the Motability scheme, and a larger electric powered scooter. The Legion also helped fund an electric bed, so Colin is able to sit up with relative ease.

And thanks to the Legion the whole family will go on trip to Great Yarmouth in August. Colin said: “The Legion has been a great help. They are always there at the end of the phone.

“They are very compassionate,” he added.

Colin has launched an online fundraising page and hopes to raise as much as he can for the Legion. He also wants to spread the word about the charity’s good work.

He said: “When I was first told about them I thought it was just old fellows from the world wars. But it’s for any person, young or old.”

And Colin believes his own experiences are a great demonstration of the Legion’s good work. He said: “When you put a pound in a tin you don’t know where it’s going. But I know it’s being spent in the local area as well as nationwide.”